Monthly Archives: March 2016

ULI member F. Kaid Benfield, Senior Counsel for Environmental Strategies at PlaceMakers LLC., recently penned an essay on affordable housing for Huffington Post’s Green section. Outlining how projects like Paseo Verde and The Rose in Minneapolis exemplify sustainability and affordability without sacrificing high-quality design, features, and amenities, Benfield shows how these developments are paving the way we think about public housing. Check out the full article, “Meet the New Green Face of Affordable Housing” on Huffington Post Green by clicking here.

As originally appeared in Urban Land Magazine For suburban developers, density used to be a dirty word, but not anymore. James Mazzarelli, senior vice president of Liberty Property Trust, told the audience at recent ULI event in Philadelphia that until recently he would instruct his development team to downplay the urban qualities of apartment proposals or walkable retail projects in pitch meetings with suburban officials. Register for the Spring Meeting in Philadelphia | Spring Meeting Tours “It’s really about using less land to generate more tax revenue and income. I … Read More

This month, ULI Philadelphia sat down Carl Dranoff, president and co-founder of Dranoff Properties. For over three decades, Carl has been a trailblazer in region’s real estate by spearheading residential and mixed use projects which have revitalized and enhanced the city’s landscape. Carl is a Gold sponsor of ULI’s annual Spring Meeting and will be hosting a product council as well as leading a mobile tour. As if that weren’t enough, Carl and his daughter Julia Gutstadt, Chief Investment Officer at Dranoff, will be speaking at March 14th’s WLI luncheon … Read More

Join the nearly 3,000 attendees of this year’s Spring Meeting! This annual meeting of land use leaders and influencers represents a unique opportunity to connect with and gain exposure to the most committed and influential of ULI’s 37,000 members from around the world. This gathering is held exclusively for ULI Full Members – ULI’s highest level of membership – as well as all ULI members within the Philadelphia region. Full membership is selective; Full Members are senior executives and principals, regarded as thought leaders by their organizations and peers. Decision-makers … Read More

The confluence of generations within family-run real estate companies provides a unique opportunity for responding to lifestyle changes and market trends, blended with lessons learned from experience. Each generation may have different visions, understanding of market forces and management styles. How do family members view development trends and transitions? Join us for a freewheeling conversation with Carl Dranoff, President, and Julia Gutstadt, Development Manager, Dranoff Properties and moderated by Meghan Juday, founder and principal of Family Business Strategy Group; fourth-generation leader and director of the IDEAL Industries family, and a … Read More

This article originally appeared in Urban Land Magazine. Though the sustainability movement has been putting more focus on human health recently, it is less of a trend than a returning to its roots. William Penn’s “greene country towne” plan of 1683 paved the way for Philadelphia to be the first American city to provide free hospital care at the heart of the city. The history of public health reaches back to America’s beginnings: the country’s first hospital was cofounded in Philadelphia by Benjamin Franklin in 1751. Philadelphia was also home … Read More

Paseo Verde, the subject of the a recent Urban Land Institute case study, was recently awarded the United States Green Building (USGBC) Project of the Year. Located in North Philadelphia, this mixed-use rental-housing project was co-developed by Asociacion Puertorriquenos en Marcha and Jonathan Rose Cos. with architects Wallace Roberts & Todd. Completed in 2013 at a cost of $48 million, this complex won due to its four levels of certification in five green design categories: sustainable sites; water efficiency; energy and atmosphere; materials and resources; and indoor environmental quality. To read more … Read More

On March 1st, more than 300 attendees attended ULI’s Contagious Urbanization: How the Suburbs are Embracing Mixed-Use and Density to learn more about the current suburban development boom. A regional panel moderated by Fortune Live host and author Leigh Gallagher, a Media Pennsylvania native, discussed how they plan and build for the new urbanized Philadelphia suburbs. Eli Kahn, Principal of E. Kahn Development Corp., presented redevelopment plans for downtown West Chester and Devon. As someone who grew up nearby, Eli explained how he aims to create an “urban light” environment, … Read More